Vehicle wheel



July 14, 1925.

1,545,630 's. E. ALLEY l VEHI CLE WHEEL Filed sept. 18, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 1 N l Inl/swor-` k mi @WW/@m July `14. 1925. 1,545,630

S. E. ALLEY VEHICLE WHEEL Filed sept. 18, 1924 2 sheets-sheet a of ground over which the vehicle hasta Patented July 14, 1925.

UNITED STAT-ESV" PATENT voFFics",v

STEPHEN EvANsADLEY, 0E WEs'riviINsTEE, LONDON, ENGLAND, AssreNoE To `THE sENTINEL WAGGo-N WORKS (192.9) LIMITED, OELONDON, ENGLAND, A BRITISH:

I COMPANY.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

Application led September 18, 1924. Serial No. 738,518.

invention to increase thefdriviirg contact of the wheel upon the ground over which it is trave-lling. It is a'further object of the 4invention to arrange for the running suis faces of theV tread portions o f the Hwheel to be of different diameter and configuration. Thus any suit-able combination of running surfaces may be utilized according to the season of the year orl the particular type travel. For instance, one tread portion may have a running surfaceV of smaller diameter than ano-ther tread portion on the same wheel, the surface of smallerjdiameter being intended to come into o-peratioiito increase the total running surface when the tread portion of largerdiameter sinks infto 4the ground over which the wheel is travel! en* .i i For a more `complete understanding of the invention reference is directed to the accompanying drawings which illustrate; several constructions of wheel according to the invention. It is tobe understood that theinvention is notrestricted to the precise constructional details illustrated. Iii'these 'drawingsz-"f" Y f Figure 1 is an edge elevation, partly in. section, of one constructionof vehiclefwheel according to the invention. Figure 2 is a ydetail sectional View of a modified construction of wheel. This figure is on a scale larger than that of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view, partly in sec.

tion, of a further constructionand also on a scale larger than that of Figure 1, and D Figures 4f' and 5 are` side elevationsof parts of metallic rims having traction lugs thereon as shown in Figure 3. t Y

` Like reference numerals indicate like Vparts throughout thedrawings.

Referring -first to Figure "1, the wheel therein illustrated comprises a center portion 10 constitutingthe hub and spokes of the wheel. The outer circumferential surface of the portion 10 comprises two conical parts-11 and 12 which are concentric with the wheel axis 'and lie with their bases towards each other and towards the middle of the width of the wheel. The portions 11 andV 12 are intended to receive `the tread portions ofthe wheel and in the construc.

tion illustrated felloe rings 13 and 14 are wedged on to the parts 11 and' 12 and these felloe rings carry the actual tread portions oi' tires 15 and 16 which inthis view are shown as being of similar nature and formation. As illustrated, the cushion tires :15 and 16 are secured by'vulcanization or in other y convenient manner to metallic rims or bands mounted on the felloe rings 13 and 14;. The

integral parts of the felloe rings may be bolted together by bolts such as 17 while to draw the Vfelloe rings into appropriaate wedging contact with the parts '11 and12, bolts such asv 18 Vmay be employed. bolts have their heads situated inwardly of These radial circumferential flanges 19 and 20 on the center portion of the wheel, and the threaded ends of the bolts and the nuts thereon are countersunk in the outer side faces of .the felloe rings so as not to foul anything during rotation of the wheel. It

lwill be appreciated `that by adopting the construction illustrated-l the tread portions may be separately adjusted on the center portion of the wheel. Alternatively, however, the tread portions may be drawn into both felloe rings.

place by bolts passingV completely through The felloe rings and tread portions can be detached and 4changed with ease and remounted on a continuousv or a segmental newal of or any tightening up orother adn justinent of the tread portions relatively to the center portion of the wheel that may Wooden or metal .felloe ring, tothatsideof the VWheel nearest `the sideof the vehicle, and a steel tire, also on a continuous or seginental `Wooden ormetal felloe ringor having inner conical surfaces lformed on or attached to its inner portion and of lessen diameter than the rubber, `on the other .part of the Wheel. On hard roads the rubber tire would take the load, aifordingvsatisfactory adhesion and allowing high speeds, vbut-When the A.vehicle traverses soft ground the rubber, tire. would sink` into the Y fg-round ysurface and thesteel .tire also vcome into play thereby .Spreading the load lover a Sgr-eater area. Another combination consists of a steel tire ,haring traction elen'ients on the side of the .Wheel nearest .the vehicle side 4and a rubber `tire .on ithe ,other part L of kvthe yvehicle. This; combination provides for the ready l.detaehment of therubber tire when heagvy-.groiuid is `to be Ytraversed .and the substitution, therefor, of a tire, ,of rubber, lmetal or other material, with comparatively e deep `serrations yor ,traction lugs. To permit of effecting this interchange, .the inner .steel ltire yisrun ...onto asupport such as a vplank Y cross-section.

of` .Wood vso as to lift the youter ,part of the Ywheel clear of the .groundg As alneadv indicated, Ethefelloe rings ,13

Vrand 14 :instead of being continuous rings may talrefthe form of segments of similar .,Tllc -liidl 'flanges 19 and.2() in addition to affording -abutments for .cooperation with the bolts 18, also serve tostiifen and strengthen the center portionof .the wheel. They rhave, moreoveig-an additional funcvtion. Atintervals around vthe Wheel kradial k.tivo ltread portions. These lsockets 21 .are intended rto 'form .housings for detachable -Spu-ds :2.2 .which may be locked in position by -`ivetlg-es such as .23. The VSlilapef 0f th@ spuds andthe material of ,which they `are -Jnade .may Vbe any desired.

-paddlel,- sh aped,',that is toas-ay .may have Wide .flatdlfcidfand ythinner .Steins formed or ar- The heads of the spuds may "project so as jto overlap Ithe tread portions if desired, but it will be ,understood that in any ,event the spudsv Vwill .project beyond the diameter Tof the .principalv `tread yportions at approximately the .middle .of the width .ofthe ivheel Y so .as tobe able to engage a part Vof the ground surface which lies between other .parts `which .are being compressed by the .tread portions of the wheel.` Consequentlyl "the spuds .will .be .enabled to secure nioreefcient .road Contact ,than Vwould be the case if they were .dis-'posed at the outside of the Wheel aS is usual.

Referring now `to Figure 2, the construction-therein shown is in .many Yrespects similar to that shown in Figure 1. The felloe They .may be.

A.rec-option ..of .the .bolts 18, there is only a single flange 427, but the sockets 21 for the spuds are of similar formation to those of Figure 1.

. fllhe construction .showny in kFigures y3, 4

,and 5 is also in many respects similar ,to

thatshown in-,Figure-jl, but the .tread ,por-

tionk 13is shown Ias being. provided] with a steel tire 28 Withifshal'low traction lugs `29y and the `felloe ring 14, .with a steel tire 301 yhaving deep lugs 31. VA dii'erent formation of spud 32 is alsol illustrated. The felloe Arings of this construetion Jare :secured in vplace by bolts .3.3 which :hook in-to kholes 34:

inthe conicaly parts lljand 12 of thecenter por-tionof the Wheel. l n

It is ,to be ,understodthat the inventionis not restricted to ithe precise oo nstructional details .hereinbefore set forth. f

vI claim-I.d

f1. A vehicle Wheel comprisingin combination a center portion, l.two .detachable tread portions received.concentrically .on the outer circumferential surface of .the said center portion but 'displacedvthe one relatively to the' .other along the kWheel axis, means providing awedging contact .between the said .tread portions andthe .center portion, and housings for detachable spuds so .situated .asto Epermit the spuds tov be mounted inl place to project ,radially from the VWheel between the tWo ytread portions Without either of .said tread portions being shifted.

`2. A vehicle Wheel. comprising .in combination ,a center portiontwoltread portions Whichareseparately .detachable and are received Vconcentrically Y.on the outer circumferential surfaceof the said center portion but displacedthe one relatively to the other along thewheelzaxfgand means ,providing a Wedging contact between the said tread por- ;tions and ,the center. portion, .said center portion being ,formedton its louter circumferential surface withgladial sockets lying .betpween., ftlie.tr.ead portions to permit detach- ,able spuds tobe inountedin place to Ipro]- ect radially from the lWheel between the tivo tread Zportions `Withnit veither of said'tread portions being shifted.

te4 vehiclegvvheel comprising in combitwo detachable ytread portions received concentrically on' the' outercirci'nnferential sur- The spuds 261noreover, are

face of the said tread portion one at each side of the said radial sockets and circumferential ribs, and bolts passing through said ribs for securing said tread portions in position on said center portion.

et. A vehicle wheel comprising in combination a center portion whereof the outer circumferential surface comprises two conical faces concentric with the wheel axis and lying with their bases towards each other and towards the middle of the width of .the wheel, and with radial sockets between the said conical faces, and with circumferential ribs joining adjacent sockets, two detachable tread portions received one on each of the said conical faces, means for securing said tread portions in position, spuds detachably mounted in said radial sockets and projecting radially from the Wheel between the two `5. A vehicle wheel comprising` in combination a center portion whereof the outer circumferential surface comprises two conical faces concentric with the wheelaXis andy lying with their bases towards each other and towards the middle of the width of the.

wheel, and with radial sockets between the said conical faces, two detachable tread portions received oiie on each of the said conical faces, means for separately adjusting` each of the said tread portions on the center portion, and spuds detachably mounted in said radial sockets and projecting radially from the wheel between the two tread portions.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. Y STEPHEN EVANS ALLEY. 

